Old Pulteney 12 Year

$40....all day e’ery day

I could have sworn that I had a glass of this at a pub in Portsmouth, New Hampshire several years ago, but I think it was a friend who got it while I drank Highland Park 15. So this is a new one for me. Shortbread, caramel, and leather on the nose. A hint of light, sweet smoke, like church incense. The palate is sweet, with black cherry and nectarine up front. Fig newtons are a prominent note. After that it’s biscuity and malt-centric, with wood spice rear palate and a coastal note. The mouthfeel is balanced, and the finish is a wave of salt and figs and smoke. A trusty, everyday dram with an aftertaste like walking into a humidor.